Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 November 2022
85. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy rail projects in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55745/22]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question.
The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme is a key element of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. The programme aims to deliver a transformational enhancement of the commuter rail system in Cork to improve the attractiveness of rail, support compact urban growth, encourage and enable modal shift to public transport, and reduce congestion and emissions.
The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme comprises a number of separate but interrelated projects that aim to deliver:
- The integration of the three existing railway corridors in the Cork area, which arrive in the city at Kent Station, providing a high-frequency north-east connection through the city;
- Full electrification, or alternative fuelling, of the suburban rail network;
- Other infrastructure improvements required to accommodate a transformative 10-minute frequency (from current 30-minute frequency) for the suburban rail network in Cork;
- Additional rolling stock to be introduced to meet existing and future demand;
- A multi-modal integrated transport hub for the city at Kent Station to promote modal shift from the private car and enhance attractiveness of the city docklands regeneration and development; and
- New stations at prime regeneration sites, park and ride interchange points and new development areas.
Work is already underway on aspects of this overall programme, with a Strategic Assessment Report, the first formal decision point under the Public Spending Code, now submitted to the Department of Transport for approval, and initial design development work ongoing.
The Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 includes European funding of initial parts of the overall programme, which have been prioritised for progress, as follows:
(i) Re-signalling of the lines to facilitate the subsequent electrified service;
(ii) The creation of an additional through-running line, with an additional platform at Kent Station; and
(iii) Double tracking the current single line between Glounthaune and Midleton.
A planning application has been submitted to Cork City Council seeking planning consent for the additional platform at Kent Station. Subject to consent being received, construction of this element of the programme will commence next year. Separately, the tender process for the re-signalling project has commenced. Subject to market response, the detailed design phase is expected to commence next year.
Following a four-week non-statutory public consultation on the preferred option for double tracking the current single line between Glounthaune and Midleton, project plans have been finalised and Iarnród Éireann will lodge an application to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order for the construction of a second rail line along the 10km section of track between Glounthaune and Midleton in Co. Cork. The Railway Order application will be lodged later this month. An 8-week statutory public consultation period will follow.
